Before posting in this marketing forum, please try to read 10 Step Plan to Promote Your Book: Online Book Marketing on Any Budget. This forum is mainly for followup questions and discussion after reading that book. This forum does indeed allow for much broader discussion of marketing and promotion than just that book, but it's good for everyone to be on the same page about the basics.

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I am an aspiring author, I submitted my first manuscript traditionally a little over two months ago. Doing research, it seems like it is easier to go through a literary agent than not. My question is, what would you recommend? Looking back, I feel like I should have waited to submit my manuscript and sought out a literary agent first. I know I can do it now, and as I said I am looking but I am also looking for thoughts!

‘A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies,’ said Jojen. ‘The man who never reads lives only one.’

I'm not sure either way is easy. My sister wrote a wonderful novel and started looking for a literary agent several years ago, and so far it hasn't been helpful--she rarely gets a response from someone she has contacted. Currently she's writing another book and thinking about self publishing. She did a lot of research, too. If you haven't connected with the Poets and Writers web site (or magazines), you might want to check those. They give a lot of information--a LOT.

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I know it isn't easy! I submitted to Avon Romance on my own but I'm not counting on getting it. I have a coiple friends in the author track. One prefers not having one and the author has one and wouldn't so it any other way. I have looked at self publishing but the exorbitant amount of fees that go into I just can't afford. I will have to look into the Writers and Poets.

Thank you!

‘A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies,’ said Jojen. ‘The man who never reads lives only one.’

Thank you! I have been keeping a mind set of "I will get published". There zure isn't. I think the writing is the easiest part especially if you get in the right zone and itball just spills out. The publishing part for me is scary, lol.

‘A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies,’ said Jojen. ‘The man who never reads lives only one.’

At this point in the publishing industry I would say 'no'. Don't bother with them unless they really can get you results. If you have to do all of the work anyway, then all you're doing is giving them a cut of your success. They can be worth it, sure, but nowadays you really don't need it, especially if you self publish.

Check out Kindle Scout if you want to dip your feet into publishing. It is hard getting selected, but it will force you to be more professional without paying a penny.

Lincoln's book, Raven's Peak is the OnlineBookClub.org April 2017 Book of the Month.

An agent is supposed to go out and sell a story to publishers, that is his job and it is what he gets his cut of your profits for. I've got four novels sitting, I'm still a step back from seeking an agent because I need help editing. Once that step is done, I'll be out there looking too. Self publishing is great if you have all your ducks in a row. As a reviewer here, I have seen several novels that should have taken a few more editing steps to ensure they had a book worth publishing. If you are comfortable with how the book comes across, go for it. Self Publish